He caught everything from piranhas in the Amazon to Atlantic salmon in Ireland

Feb. 23, 2013

John Henry Merwin is seen in this undated courtesy photo. / Courtesy photo

Written by

Staff and wire reports

LEBANON, N.H. — John Henry Merwin, one of America’s pre-eminent fishing writers who authored or edited 15 books on the subject, has died. He was 66.

Merwin, of Dorset died Wednesday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

A veteran fishing editor for Field & Stream magazine, Merwin caught everything from piranhas in the Amazon to Atlantic salmon in Ireland. Among his books are “The New American Trout Fishing” and best-selling “Trailside Guide to Fly Fishing.”

Born in Norwalk, Conn., Merwin started fishing with his father at age 3 and never stopped.

“From the time Dad put a fishing rod in his hand, he was obsessed,” brothers Tom and Gus stated in Merwin’s obituary. “We all shook our heads; all he cared about was fishing.”

After attending the University of Michigan and becoming a newspaper reporter, he married Angela Pizza in 1970 and headed to Vermont to try his hand at living simply. Angela gave birth to a daughter, Emily, in 1974 and a son, Jason, in 1978, according to his obituary.

In Vermont, Merwin tended cows, pigs and chickens, and backpacked his young kids to the river to fish.

In 1979, out of his basement, launched Rod & Reel magazine (now Fly Rod & Reel). Merwin followed that up with Fly Tackle Dealer, a trade magazine.

Merwin divorced and later married Martha Poole, beginning what his family called a 30-year adventure of camping, fishing, gardening and raising children together. Martha gave birth to a son, Sam, in 1985.

“John was, quite simply, one of the most knowledgeable and experienced all-around anglers in the world — a genuine expert, but more: He was the standard-bearer of integrity in fishing journalism,” Anthony Licata, editor of Field & Stream, said in his obituary.

On the river, he was known as an artist and a teacher, one who could explain succinctly why a person’s casting stunk, as well as what the individual didn’t understand about work and life.

“He could be blunt in his assessments, but that was just his New England way of saving time,” former Field & Stream editor Slaton White said in the obituary. “In truth, he only played the curmudgeon; he was a patient, gentle teacher.”

Merwin is survived by his wife, Martha; son Jason, daughter-in-law Milena and granddaughter Cassandra of Barnard; daughter Emily of Quincy, Mass.; and son Sam of Brooklyn, N.Y.; along with his brothers Thomas and Augustus Jr.

He was cremated, and his ashes were sprinkled along the Battenkill. At Merwin’s request, there is no service, and the family asked that in lieu of flowers people consider making a donation in his name to their favorite fishing or outdoor cause.